Over 70 Boko Haram members have reportedly lost their lives as the result of an ambush made by vigilante group members in Madagali town of Adamawa State, on May 16, 2014. About seven suspected terrorists were captured alive and handed over to the security forces.
According to SaharaReporters, the local defenders got a tip-off that suspected sect members would come to a renowned food supplier, as a part of their preparations for a major operation in the area, allegedly for a night raid on villages.
The vigilantes have mobilised and prepared to confront the militants. About 100 suspected Boko Haram fighters soon came to the area in various vehicles. However, instead of obtaining their favourite food, the militants were attacked with various weapons in vigilantes’ possession. The fight left about 70 terrorists dead, over 7 captured, while other intruders ran for their lives.
One of the participants of today’s battle told Saharareporters that Nigerian Army is either unable, or unwilling to help local communities in battling terrorism: “They (soldiers) seem to be helpless and to fear the Boko Haram warriors who terrorize us here. But we are not afraid. They are men like us. And we are tired of folding up our hands and allowing them to kill us, to kill our wives and to kill our children.”
Nigerians from remote areas of the three North-Eastern states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe, being under the state of emergency rule, have decided that the best defence is the offence. It would be noted that Friday’s anti-terrorist action is a repeat of similar move by the villagers in Kalabalge LGA in Borno State earlier this week. Boko Haram militants suffered a bitter defeat there, losing about 200 fighters.